North/South Implementation Bodies

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether the accounts for the year 2000 for the cross-border Language Implementation Body have been finalised and signed by the appropriate authorities; if not, when will they will be finalised and signed; and who will be the appropriate signatories.

Baroness Amos: The accounts for the year 2000 for the North/South Language Implementation Body have been signed by the chairman and chief executive of Foras na Gaeilge. They have not as yet been signed by both the chairman and chief executive of the Ulster-Scots Agency. The accounts cannot be finalised until they are signed by both agencies of the Language Body.

North/South Implementation Bodies

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord President on 19 January (WA 119) concerning the proportionality of funding for cross-border bodies, whether proportionality has been considered for the Language Body's budget for 2004; if so, when the information for such consideration was obtained; and, if not, why not.

Baroness Amos: I have nothing further to add to my Answer given on 19 January 2004 (WA 119).

Northern Ireland Assembly: Costs

Lord Smith of Clifton: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What was the total cost of the salaries of Members of the Northern Ireland Legislative Assembly, and that of their support staff, from 14 October 2002 to 31 January 2004.

Baroness Amos: For the period 14 October 2002 to 31 January 2004, Members' salaries were £4,670,000 and Members' support staff salaries were £3,184,000. These figures are based on actual expenditure for the period October 2002 to December 2003. Expenditure included in respect of January 2004 is estimated as actual figures are not yet available.

Jamaica: Prisons

Lord Corbett of Castle Vale: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What discussions have taken place between the Department for International Development and the Government of Jamaica on possible United Kingdom financial assistance towards the building of prisons to hold Jamaican nationals convicted of criminal offences in the United Kingdom.

Baroness Amos: There has been no official communication between the Government of Jamaica and the Department for International Development on the possibility of financial assistance to build any new prison in Jamaica.
	In November 2002, the Minister for National Security spoke with international development partners concerning security issues and referred to the need for a new prison facility, but accepted that bilateral assistance from any donor was unlikely.

Questions for Written Answer: Reply Times

Lord Lester of Herne Hill: asked the Leader of the House:
	On how many occasions during the past 12 months they have failed to meet the target of answering Written Questions within two weeks; and which departments have been responsible for such failures.

Baroness Amos: Since 22 January 2003 to 22 January 2004, 4,980 Questions for Written Answer have been tabled. Of these, 2,767 (56 per cent) were answered within the two-week deadline.
	The remaining 44 per cent fall to all departments apart from the Scotland Office and the Wales Office, who were tabled two and three Questions respectively during this period.
	I continue to review all the outstanding Questions with my ministerial colleagues on a weekly basis and remind them of the importance of prompt and accurate Answers.

Questions for Written Answer: Reply Times

Lord Jopling: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many officials are employed in the Cabinet Office to answer Questions for Written Answer; and whether there are plans to employ extra staff in view of the failure to answer Lord Christopher's Question (HL441) after almost eight weeks, when the target time is two weeks.

Lord Bassam of Brighton: I am sorry for the delay in replying to Lord Christopher's question. Much of the detailed information requested by Lord Christopher was not held centrally within the Cabinet Office and officials had to consult the Ministry of Defence. The Christmas recess also intervened. The process therefore took much longer than is desirable and for this I apologise. Cabinet Office staff draft Answers to Parliamentary Questions as part of their normal day-to-day duties. There are no Cabinet Office staff solely employed on drafting Answers to Parliamentary Questions.

Faith Communities Unit

Lord Janner of Braunstone: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is the remit of the Home Office Faith Communities Unit.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: The remit of the Faith Communities Unit is to:
	provide Ministers with advice on religious issues;
	take forward the manifesto commitment to review the way in which government interfaces with faith communities, and produce advice for government departments on how to consult faith communities effectively;
	develop the Government's links with faith communities, so as to help mutual understanding of the impact of government policies on these communities;
	engage with faith communities, so as to encourage their participation at all levels in civil society;
	promote dialogue between faith communities, in particular among young people, in order to encourage strong inter-faith relationships;
	examine issues surrounding religiously aggravated crime and incitement to religious hatred;
	deliver Holocaust Memorial Day (27 January each year); and raise awareness and understanding of the Holocaust and its contemporary relevance to all of society.

Faith Communities Unit

Lord Janner of Braunstone: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many members of staff there are in the Faith Communities Unit.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: The number of staff in the Faith Communities Unit currently stands at 13.6 full-time equivalent posts.

Faith Communities Unit

Lord Janner of Braunstone: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How the staff in the Home Office Faith Communities Unit are deployed.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: The main areas of work on which staff in the Faith Communities Unit are currently deployed are: the review of the Government's interface with faith communities; Holocaust Memorial Day; engaging with faith communities; and crime motivated by racial and religious hatred. Within these workstreams staff are deployed to meet government priorities.

Faith Communities Unit

Lord Janner of Braunstone: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether the main faith communities are represented in the Faith Communities Unit staff team.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: The recruitment of staff to the Faith Communities Unit, as to other units, is on the basis of competency and ability to satisfy the requirements of the post. The adherence (or not) to, or belief and practice in, a religion is a personal matter for each individual and data on this are not collected.

National Offender Management Service: Unconvicted Prisoners

Baroness Stern: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Following the Home Secretary's announcement of the establishment of a National Offender Management Service, what arrangements are to be made for the management of unconvicted prisoners.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: The structure of the National Offender Management Service is yet to be finalised. As part of the implementation of the "Reducing Crime—Changing Lives" reforms, the implementation team will consider the arrangements for the management of unconvicted prisoners.

Criminal Records Bureau

Lord Hodgson of Astley Abbotts: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether it is still the case that the data from a Criminal Records Bureau application form which are input in India are name, date of birth and addresses for the past five years; and
	Whether any information from any source other than the application form is input in India on behalf of the Criminal Records Bureau; what information other than name, date of birth or address is input in India; whether any other information is accessed from India; whether any other overseas location is involved in data access or data input for the Criminal Records Bureau system; and whether the Government or the bureau have plans to increase the extent of work done overseas; and
	Whether any personal information other than name, date of birth and address is input overseas into the Criminal Records Bureau system; and whether overseas personnel have access to any other personal information such as bank details; and
	Whether the application form for a Criminal Records Bureau check now carries an instruction that the section on bank details must be left blank; and
	How many unprocessed Criminal Records Bureau applications are on forms which asked for bank details to be completed; and how forms already processed which contain bank details are being stored.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: Work—consisting solely of manually inputting all personal information contained on Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) disclosure application forms (including the mandatory details such as the applicant's name, date of birth, current and previous addresses during the past five years, position applied for, the organisation concerned and details of the documents used as evidence of an applicant's identification, such as passport, driving licence and birth certificate)—is undertaken at a site in India.
	The data transferred are those contained on the disclosure application form. The form is scanned, encrypted and then transferred via a secure link to a site in India. On receipt of the scanned image, the data are entered onto a system compatible with those used by the CRB to process disclosure applications. On completion the data are again encrypted and transferred back to the UK via the secure link. The data are retained in India only for the duration of time taken to input. Thereafter, the data are destroyed. The overseas personnel involved in the data input are fully trained in data security and privacy and abide by a strict code of conduct.
	The form is set out in Schedule 2 to the Police Act 1997 (Criminal Records) Regulations 2002. No other overseas location is involved in data access or data input for the CRB. There are no plans to increase or extend the work carried out overseas.
	Although pending redesign and reprinting, the current disclosure application form includes a section in which applicants were originally invited to show certain other personal information, including their bank details, for the purpose of assisting in verifying the applicant's identity. It was decided in December 2002 that this section should no longer be used and customers were informed in January 2003. The section was formally revoked by the Police Act (Criminal Records) (Amendment No. 2) Regulations 2003 with effect from February 2003.
	It is the responsibility of a registered body to verify the applicant's identity using guidelines issued by the CRB. All registered bodies have been informed that applicants no longer need to supply bank details. They have been made aware via both the disclosure website and the customer newsletter. Applicants themselves are made aware via the application guidance notes, which clearly state that there is no longer a requirement to supply bank details.
	As at 24 January 2004, the number of fully completed applications within the CRB system that are available for processing was 107,145. This represents less than three weeks' work. jenny

Criminal Records Bureau

Lord Hodgson of Astley Abbotts: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What checks and audits are undertaken, and at what intervals, to ensure that the provisions of the Data Protection Act 1998 are being met in connection with Criminal Records Bureau checks (a) overseas; and (b) within the United Kingdom

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: It has at all times been the intention that, in terms of data protection, security and other aspects, the arrangements for processing data should entail no material increase to the risk of misuse of data. Consequently, before agreement was given for any data to be processed in India, the site was visited by senior officials from the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB), who were fully satisfied that this was the case. The main CRB contract, (signed in August 2000) requires that the CRB's private sector partner, Capita, and any sub-contractor of Capita must comply with the Data Protection Act 1998; and that Capita may not enter into a sub-contracting arrangement without the permission of the CRB.
	The CRB undertakes a wide range of checks and audits on all systems and processes to satisfy the security expectations of the Data Protection Act 1998. In addition to daily routine auditing of CRB systems, the CRB undertakes yearly security accreditation and BS7799 compliance and has undergone a full data protection adequacy audit. Where processing is conducted by a data processor overseas, the same security standards are applied. Additionally, all staff members both within the CRB agency and within organisations processing data on behalf of the CRB agency receive regular data protection and security training.

Burial Grounds

Lord Avebury: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Why, in their consultation paper on the reform of burial law and policy in the 21st century, the Home Office suggests that an assessment of community needs should be made every 10 years, when the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's consultation paper of draft planning policy statement 11 (PPS11) says that the regional spatial strategy should provide a broad development strategy for the region of at least a 15-year period; and whether Clause 1(2) of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Bill will include a provision for burial grounds.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: For planning purposes, the provision of land for burial is currently considered to be a local, rather than regional, land use issue. The government consultation paper on burial law and policy therefore seeks views on whether the provision of burial grounds should be linked to the local core strategy development plan, outlined in planning policy statement 12: local development frameworks. Such plans should cover a period of at least 10 years.
	I understand that, due to the comprehensive nature of Clause 1(2) of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Bill, it will not require a separate provision for burial grounds.

Privacy and Public Protection

The Earl of Northesk: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Given the conclusion of their "Respecting Privacy and Protecting the Public from Crime" consultation and the views of respondents on the desirability of a wider public debate about the issues raised, how they propose that such a debate be arranged.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: The summary of responses to the privacy chapter of the consultation paper, Access to Communications Data, has been published on the Home Office website. 1 The summary makes clear that the Home Office wants the public to continue to have the opportunity to be involved in debating confidence and trust in the use of surveillance powers by public authorities, and invites their views.
	In addition, officials are engaged in research projects, being undertaken by Liberty and by the Office of the Information Commissioner, that are reviewing issues around the balance between respect for individual privacy and protection of the public. The Home Office welcomes these initiatives and is committed to engaging constructively in them. Together with the Home Office's own initiatives described in the summary of responses, they provide a foundation for broader public dialogue using a range of approaches from public meetings to online discussion groups.
	1 http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/docs2/ RIPA–consult–responses.html.

Administrative Court: Home Office Reference M1206235

Lord Avebury: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What steps they are taking to comply with the order of Mr Justice Bell in the Administrative Court on 3 February, in the case whose Home Office reference number is M1206235, that the Secretary of State should facilitate the return of the applicant to the United Kingdom.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: The subject of Home Office reference M1206235 was returned to the United Kingdom on 6 February 2004.

Work Permits: Professional Sportsmen

Lord Moynihan: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What are the transitional arrangements for work permits for professional sportsmen from the proposed 10 new member states of the European Union.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: There are no transitional arrangements. Until 1 May 2004, nationals of the 10 accession countries seeking to come to the United Kingdom for the purpose of employment will continue to be subject to work permit requirements. After that date, they will be subject to the same rights and obligations that apply to any other national of a new member state.

Work Permits: Professional Sportsmen

Lord Moynihan: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	When the decision to permit people on working holiday visas the right to take up employment in professional sport was taken; and what assessment has been made of the impact on employment opportunities in professional sport for United Kingdom sportsmen and women arising from this decision.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: Changes to the Commonwealth Working Holidaymaker Scheme were announced on 20 June 2003 and became effective for new applicants on 25 August 2003. Nationals of Commonwealth countries who enter as working holidaymakers may now work in any sector during their two-year stay, but must intend to take a holiday break from work during their stay.
	The Government are reviewing the impact of the changes to the scheme. As part of the review, the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) is currently assessing the impact on the sports sector with a number of sporting bodies.

Work Permits: Professional Sportsmen

Lord Moynihan: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What were the outcome and length of the consultation process which took place with professional sports organisations prior to the decision to permit people on working holiday visas to be employed in professional sport; which organisations responded to the proposals for professional sport; and how many responses were in favour of the proposals.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: A public consultation document on the Working Holidaymaker Scheme (WHS) was published in May 2002 with the consultation period ending on 23 August 2002. Eighty responses to the consultation document were received. Two professional sports players' associations responded, the Ice Hockey Players' Association and the Professional Footballers' Association. They made representations in October 2002, after the consultation period had ended, but their responses were none the less considered fully during the review process. Both responses opposed the proposed changes concerning the removal of work restrictions. The only other sporting body to respond was the Sports Council of Northern Ireland, which supported the removal of work restrictions.
	The Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) received representations directly from a number of sporting bodies, including the Ice Hockey Players' Association, against the proposed changes. However, the arguments raised were considered not to outweigh the potential advantages to the WHS of the removal of employment restrictions. The Government are reviewing the impact of the changes to the scheme. Within this review the DCMS, as part of the review process, is currently investigating the impact of the WHS with a number of sporting bodies.

Roma Population in EU Accession Countries: Possible Migration to UK

Lord Marlesford: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they can estimate the number of Roma people who are citizens of the 10 countries which are to accede this year to the European Union; and what proportion of them (a) are eligible; and (b) are expected to move to the United Kingdom.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: Europe's Roma population is estimated at between 7 million and 9 million. Nearly 80 per cent of these Roma live in European Union accession countries.
	Current member states, including the UK, cannot discriminate against any new member state or citizens of a specific accession state. Under the Accession Treaty nationals from all of the 10 new member states joining the EU on 1 May will have the right to travel freely across the European Union allowing them to visit, live and study in any other member state.
	While predictions are extremely difficult to make, Home Office commissioned research looked at a number of independent studies into migration flows into the UK after enlargement and concluded that there will not be a massive increase from current levels.

Roma Population in EU Accession Countries: Possible Migration to UK

Lord Marlesford: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What preparations they have made to receive Roma people who may arrive in the United Kingdom during 2004 from the 10 countries which will accede to the European Union; and
	Whether they have made any estimate of, or provision for, the financial costs of receiving and caring for Roma people who may arrive in the United Kingdom during 2004–05 from the 10 countries acceding to the European Union.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: Our policies on this matter make no distinction between Roma and others. We have made very clear that people from the accession countries should not travel to this country in the expectation of being able to claim benefits, and we will announce shortly the legal changes we will be making to give effect to this. jenny

EU Meetings: Rules of Procedure

Lord Stoddart of Swindon: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether the Council of Ministers of the European Community and the Council of the European Union (Heads of Government) have published any standing orders for the conduct of their business; if so, when they were published; and whether they were subject to parliamentary scrutiny or approval.

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: Articles 202-210 TEC set out general guidelines for the workings of the Council and that the Council shall adopt its rules of procedure. The rules of procedure, as an internal institutional set of rules, are not regarded as an EU document to be submitted for formal scrutiny, as defined by the orders of reference of the European Union Committee. There are no rules of procedure for the European Council.

EU Meetings: Rules of Procedure

Lord Stoddart of Swindon: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether standing orders, or rules of procedure, for the intergovernmental conference of member governments of the European Union and applicant states have been agreed and published; where they can be obtained; and by what procedure they were agreed.

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: There are no rules of procedure for intergovernmental conferences (IGCs). However, Article 48 TEU, as agreed by heads of state and government, sets out the process to convene an IGC.

Iraq: Coalition Provisional Authority

Lord Oakeshott of Seagrove Bay: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	In what sense the Coalition Provisional Authority in Iraq "is led by the United States and the United Kingdom", as stated on their website; and how the authority is accountable to the Government.

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: The leading role of the US and UK in the Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA) is based upon their designation in UNSCR 1483 as occupying powers with responsibility for the security and administration of Iraq. British officials seconded to the CPA are responsible for their actions to Her Majesty's Government.

Iraq: Coalition Provisional Authority

Lord Oakeshott of Seagrove Bay: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How the Government were consulted before Mr Bremer was appointed to head the Coalition Provisional Authority in Iraq.

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: The decision to appoint Ambassador Bremer was one for the US Administration. We were informed beforehand as part of ongoing close contact with the Americans. Likewise, we decided to appoint a UK Special Representative in Iraq, John Sawers, of which we informed the Americans. roger

Iraq: Private Sector Development Division of CPA

Lord Oakeshott of Seagrove Bay: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they support the privatisation programme for state-owned industries undertaken by the private sector development division of the Coalition Provisional Authority in Iraq; how many United Kingdom citizens are involved in the programme; and whether the programme is compatible with the aim of a democratic Iraq controlling its own economic policy.

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: The role and tasks of the private sector development division of the Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA), as described on the division's website, http://www.cpa-iraq.org/economy/priv—sect—dvlpt.html, are "helping the state-owned enterprises resume normal operations, developing foreign investment, and stimulating growth of all businesses, particularly small and medium-sized businesses".
	Although privatisation may be an economically desirable outcome for some Iraqi state-owned enterprises in the future, this is not a policy goal of the CPA. Decisions on this subject are being left for future Iraqi administrations to make.
	The private sector development division of CPA has, however, taken many steps to promote private sector growth and employment, such as establishing the Trade Bank of Iraq, creating a legal framework for foreign direct investment, working with the newly independent Central Bank to liberalise interest rates, and providing a new framework for commercial banking.
	There are currently no UK government secondees in the private sector development division of the CPA.

Iraq: State-owned Enterprises

Lord Oakeshott of Seagrove Bay: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many of the 45 state-owned enterprises named in the Iraq Coalition Provisional Authority's "Business Opportunities in Iraq Index A" have been sold to foreign investors.

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: No Iraqi state-owned enterprises have been sold to investors—domestic or foreign.

Iraq: CPA Order 39

Lord Oakeshott of Seagrove Bay: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What consultation took place between the Coalition Provisional Authority in Iraq and the Government before Order 39 was signed in September 2003; what representations were made by the Government; and whether Order 39 was amended in consequence.

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: Order 39 of the Coalition Provisional Authority is the product of consultations between the British Government and the Coalition Provisional Authority, relevant departments of the US Administration, the UN Secretary-General's Representative, the international financial institutions and the Iraqi Governing Council. Such consultations, called for under the terms of UNSCR 1483, are a necessary and normal part of the preparation of legislation by the coalition. jenny

Universities: First Degrees

Lord Oakeshott of Seagrove Bay: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Baroness Ashton of Upholland on 2 February (WA 72–74), excluding the new universities created following the Further and Higher Education Act 1992:
	(a) how many first degrees were awarded in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland in 1998 and 2003; and
	(b) what were these figures expressed as a percentage of the total number of degrees awarded in 1998 and 2003.

Baroness Ashton of Upholland: The available information is given in the table.
	
		Undergraduate degrees awarded by UK pre-92 universities
		
			 Country Year Total degrees awarded Total First Class Hons Degree % First Class Hons Degree 
			 England 1998 90,544 9,548 10.5 
			  2003 99,372 13,946 14.0 
			 Wales 1998 5,377 398 7.4 
			  2003 8,668 886 10.2 
			 Scotland 1998 15,364 1,326 8.6 
			  2003 15,560 1,573 10.1 
			 Northern Ireland 1998 6,500 518 8.0 
			  2003 6,596 613 9.3 
		
	
	Source:
	Higher Education Statistics Agency

Employment Equality (Religion or Belief) Regulations 2003: Schools and Colleges

Lord Lester of Herne Hill: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Baroness Ashton of Upholland on 28 January (WA 39–41), whether their decision to incorporate Catholic sixth-form colleges into the further education sector (with consequential amendments to the Employment Equality (Religion or Belief) Regulations 2003) but not to incorporate any further religion or belief-based institutions into the sector constitutes a difference of treatment based on religion; and, if so, what is the objective and reasonable justification for the difference.

Baroness Ashton of Upholland: The Catholic sixth-form colleges were first designated as eligible to receive support from funds administered by the further education funding councils under the Further and Higher Education Act 1992 and were incorporated as further education institutions in 2001. No other religion or belief-based institutions principally concerned with providing full-time education suitable to the requirements of persons over compulsory school age who have not attained the age of 19 years existed then or now. Since the Catholic sixth-form colleges were and remain the only religion or belief-based institutions of their type, the Government's view is that their incorporation into the further education sector did not constitute a difference of treatment based on religion. clean jenny

World War II Military Dining Car

Lord Faulkner of Worcester: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will assist the National Army Museum to acquire the former military dining car which formed part of the Mediterranean Line of Communication (Medloc) trains, and assisted in the movement of allied forces in Europe during and after World War II, and prevent its sale overseas.

Lord Bach: The National Army Museum is a Royal chartered body and a registered charity, which receives the bulk of its running costs, including a purchase grant, via a grant in aid from the Ministry of Defence. Collections policy is the responsibility of the museum's council. The museum has advised that it has no plans to acquire the Medloc dining car and it does not, therefore, require government assistance to this end.

Defence Procurement Agency: Website and Project Updates

Lord Astor of Hever: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many project pages on the Defence Procurement Agency's website have not been updated for six months or more; and whether this reflects a similar lack of progress on the projects themselves.

Lord Bach: Of 51 project pages on the DPA website, 41 pages have not been updated within the past six months. This does not reflect lack of progress on the projects concerned. Updates are normally made when there are material changes to the status of a project, for example, the achievement of a major milestone. Further updates are due to be made shortly.

Reserve Forces

Earl Attlee: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many members of the reserve forces are expected not to seek re-engagement due to the new requirement to notify their employers of membership of the reserve forces.

Lord Bach: When reservists are mobilised their employers are informed of their membership of the reserve forces. In addition, surveys undertaken by the Ministry of Defence have shown that a large majority of reservists have told their employers that they are members of the Volunteer Reserve. Therefore, we do not expect routine employer notifications to have a significant impact on recruitment or retention. jenny

Reserve Forces

Earl Attlee: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether commissioned members of the volunteer reserve forces will enjoy an unfair advantage over those who are not commissioned, since they do not have to re-engage regularly and thus inform their employers of their membership.

Lord Bach: Reservists who do not routinely re-engage, such as commissioned officers, will be obliged to notify their employer of their membership of the volunteer reserve forces at the earliest opportunity before 31 March 2005. After that date notification will be compulsory unless an exemption or waiver is granted. Failure to comply will be regarded as being incompatible with continued membership of the Volunteer Reserve Forces.

Reserve Forces

Earl Attlee: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether there is any legal restriction on employers' rights to counsel an employee to leave the volunteer reserve forces.

Lord Bach: While there are no legal restrictions on employers counselling employees to leave the volunteer reserve forces, we would urge them not to do so. Reservists bring a great deal of skill and experience to their civilian employers—skills which would cost thousands of pounds for the employer to secure through other forms of training.
	If employers have concerns, they should contact the Ministry of Defence before making any decisions. This can be done through the Supporting Britain's Reservists and Employers (SaBRE) website at www.sabre.mod.uk.

Reserve Forces

Earl Attlee: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether a member of the volunteer reserve forces will have the right to prevent an employer being notified of his membership.

Lord Bach: An automatic exemption from employer notification will be granted to reservists whose unit, residence or employer is located in Northern Ireland. Reservists on the strength of special forces units will also be granted such an exemption.
	Reservists, other than those granted exemption, may apply for a waiver if they believe they have good reasons for not informing their employer of their membership of the volunteer reserve forces. In addition, a unit commanding officer may also seek a waiver on a reservists' behalf if he believes there are other good grounds for doing so. Waivers are temporary and may be granted for up to one year after which a further waiver may be sought if still needed.
	Reservists have the right to appeal if an application for a waiver is turned down.

Electoral Pilots: All-postal Ballots

Lord Greaves: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What representation they have had in the past two months in favour of holding all-postal ballots in the combined European and local elections in (a) the north-west, (b) Yorkshire and Humberside and (c) all other regions, other than the East Midlands and the north-east.

Lord Filkin: In the past two months, since the Electoral Commission published its recommendations regarding which regions should hold pilots in December, the Government have received (a) 21 letters supporting the north-west as a pilot area, (b) one supporting Yorkshire and the Humber, and (c) one supporting Scotland. These have been received by both the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and the Department for Constitutional Affairs.

Freedom of Information Act 2000:Ministers and Civil Servants

Lord Lester of Herne Hill: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What changes have been made in the administrative procedures and practices of Ministers and civil servants with a view to the coming into force of the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

Lord Filkin: The annual report on bringing into force those provisions of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 which are not yet fully in force included details of the changes that have been made in the administrative procedures and practices of Ministers and civil servants in the last year. The report was laid before both Houses on 27 November 2003 and copies are available in the Library.

Professor Sir Roy Meadow

Earl Howe: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	On how many occasions during the past 10 years Professor Sir Roy Meadow has lectured to judges under the auspices of the Judicial Studies Board; what were the subjects of his lectures; and which judges were present to hear them.

Lord Filkin: The information requested is set out in the following table:
	
		Lectures by Professor Sir Roy Meadow at JSB Training Seminars during the past 10 Years
		
			 Course/Seminar Lecture Date 
			 Seminar for Potential Nominated Care Judges The Paediatric Witness 7–9 May 1997 
			 Seminar for Potential Nominated Care Judges The Paediatric Witness 6–8 May 1998 
			 Seminar for Potential Nominated Care Judges The Paediatric Witness 5–7 May 1999 
			 Seminar for Potential Nominated Care Judges The Paediatric Witness 9–12 May 2000 
			 Continuation Seminar for Nominated Care District Judges Paediatric Reports 22–24 May 2000 
			 Seminar for Potential Nominated Care Judges The Paediatric Witness 1–4 May 2001 
		
	
	The Judicial Studies Board maintains lists of participants on all its seminars. As a matter of policy, however, it does not disclose the training of judges on the principle that the training a judge has received constitutes part of a judge's personal record, which are confidential to the judge, him or herself and the Lord Chancellor.

Information Commissioner: Legislative Compliance Enforcement

The Earl of Northesk: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How they intend to respond to calls from the Information Commissioner for improvements to be made to their slow and cumbersome enforcement powers.

Lord Filkin: I have regular meetings with the Information Commissioner who is responsible for ensuring compliance with the Data Protection Act 1998, the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and the Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations 2003. The Government are currently looking at the powers available to the commissioner to enforce the 2003 regulations. I will consider very carefully any suggestions he may make for amending the other legislation to improve its effectiveness. clean jenny

Olympic Games 2012: London Bid

Lord Moynihan: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the statement by the Lord Rooker on 20 January (HL Deb, col. 902) that "the Dome may play a role if London is successful in the Olympic bid", whether any change has been made to the London 2012 bid team's application to the International Olympic Committee which states that the Dome will be used for gymnastics, basketball and handball if London wins the bid to host the Summer Olympics in 2012.

Lord McIntosh of Haringey: There has been no change to the proposed venues announced by the bidding company, London 2012 on 16 January, the day after the applicant questionnaire was submitted to the International Olympic Committee. This included the use of the Dome to stage the basketball and handball finals and gymnastics events, should the bid be successful.

Gender Recognition Bill

Lord Moynihan: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord McIntosh of Haringey on 27 January (WA 37–38), whether they will provide a summary, which protects the confidentiality of respondents, of the responses from sports bodies to the consultation on the Gender Recognition Bill, with particular reference to whether sports should be exempted from the Bill; and
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord McIntosh of Haringey on 27 January (WA 37–38), whether all respondents to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport's consultation on the Gender Recognition Bill requested that their responses be treated in confidence; and, if so, whether it is appropriate to publish the names of organisations which have requested that their responses be treated in confidence.

Lord McIntosh of Haringey: Governing bodies and other sporting organisations responded to the consultation on the understanding that responses would not be published. Soundings were taken informally. The Government will not, therefore, be publishing the results. This is in accordance with exemption 14 of part 2 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.

Inland Revenue: Disclosure of Information

Lord Hodgson of Astley Abbotts: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord McIntosh of Haringey on 28 January (WA 50), which laws permit the Inland Revenue to disclose information on an individual's tax affairs; and
	On what statutory basis transfer of personal or corporate data takes place from the Inland Revenue to other government departments; and how many such transfers take place each year.

Lord McIntosh of Haringey: The Inland Revenue's statutory duty of confidentiality is in Section 182 of the Finance Act 1989. This prevents it disclosing any information to third parties. There are exceptions in Sections 182(5) and (6) of the Finance Act 1989, which allow disclosure in the following circumstances:
	when the customer has consented, or
	for the purposes of the department's duties, or if authorised by the board or certain other authorities, or
	for the purposes of a prosecution in relation to Inland Revenue, or
	following a court order binding on the Crown, or
	in response to a witness summons or subpoena served in legal proceedings, or
	when the department's legal duty to maintain confidentiality is specifically overriden by statute i.e. information gateways.
	The Inland Revenue does not keep central records of the number of disclosures it makes.

Inland Revenue: Disclosure of Information

Lord Hodgson of Astley Abbotts: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	On what grounds decisions are taken to transfer personal or corporate data held by the Inland Revenue to other government departments.

Lord McIntosh of Haringey: The Inland Revenue transfers data to other government departments when the application for such information meets the strict criteria set out in the statutory gateway that allows disclosure to that department.

Inland Revenue: Disclosure of Information

Lord Hodgson of Astley Abbotts: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What kinds of personal or corporate data held by the Inland Revenue are transferred to other government departments.

Lord McIntosh of Haringey: The sort of data that the Inland Revenue may transfer to another government department is strictly governed by the statutory gateway relevant to that department. Gateways and the sort of information that may be passed vary from one department to another but may include names, addresses and appropriate financial information. roger

Inland Revenue: Disclosure of Information

Lord Hodgson of Astley Abbotts: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What records are kept of transfers of personal or corporate data to other government departments; and whether the Data Protection Registrar has access to the relevant records.

Lord McIntosh of Haringey: The Inland Revenue does not keep central records of data it transfers to other government departments. In appropriate cases there may be a record of data transferred on an individual's file and this file would be made available to the Information Commissioner should he require it.

Tax

Lord Taylor of Warwick: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	When they intend to respond to submissions to the Treasury of the Institute of Directors, the Federation for Small Businesses and the Institute of Chartered Accountants calling for an urgent streamlining of the tax system.

Lord McIntosh of Haringey: The Government will consider all representations as part of the normal Budget process.

Illegal Meat Imports

Baroness Byford: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will introduce a system for collecting the numbers of illegal meat seizures at (a) Heathrow and (b) Gatwick.

Lord McIntosh of Haringey: Customs' systems already record details of all seizures at Heathrow, Gatwick and elsewhere in the UK.

Broadband

The Earl of Northesk: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How they respond to the call from the Broadband Industry Group in its 3rd annual report for targets to be set for the roll-out and take-up of significantly faster broadband connections than are at present generally available.

Lord Sainsbury of Turville: The Government value the work of the Broadband Stakeholder Group and the significant contribution it has made to the successful development of broadband in the UK. The current broadband target is set for 2005 and the Government are in the process of considering with stakeholders what targets are necessary to measure the UK's progress in this area after this date. This process will be completed by the summer and the Government will make an announcement once the review is complete. roger

Insolvency

Lord Chadlington: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many insolvencies there have been each year since 1996.

Lord Sainsbury of Turville: The table below gives total insolvencies broken down by company and individual insolvencies for each year from 1996 to 2003.
	
		
			 Year Total Insolvencies Individual Insolvencies Company Insolvencies 
			 1996 39,732 26,271 13,461 
			 1997 37,051 24,441 12,610 
			 1998 37,752 24,549 13,203 
			 1999 43,089 28,809 14,280 
			 2000 43,845 29,528 14,317 
			 2001 44,747 29,775 14,972 
			 2002 46,892 30,587 16,305 
			 2003 50,512 36,328 14,184

Enterprise Act 2002

Lord Hodgson of Astley Abbotts: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Why the date for the coming into force of part of the Enterprise Act 2002 by means of the Enterprise Act 2002 (Commencement No. 5 and Amendment Order) SI 3340/2003 was advanced from 1 April 2004 to 18 December 2003.

Lord Sainsbury of Turville: The order made provision for the earlier commencement of Sections 270(1), (2) and (4) and Section 271 of the Enterprise Act 2002. These sections relate to the power for the Secretary of State to require fees to be payable in connection with: (a) the grant or maintenance of recognition of a body under Section 391 and 393 of the Insolvency Act 1986 (i.e. the authorisation of insolvency practitioners), and (b) the operation of the Insolvency Services Account.
	Subsequently, the Insolvency Practitioners and Insolvency Services Account (Fees) Order 2003 SI 2003 No. 3363 was made on 30 December 2003. This order made provision in relation to the payment of fees for authorised insolvency practitioners and the operation of the Insolvency Services Account. The order provided for the earlier commencement of Article 2(3) on 30 January 2004 with all other provisions coming into force on 1 April 2004.
	Article 2(3) provides that each body recognised pursuant to Section 391 shall on or before 31 January in each year submit to the Secretary of State a list of its members who as at 1 January in that year were authorised to act as insolvency practitioners by virtue of membership of that body.
	The Insolvency Service has subsequently written to all the recognised bodies requiring them to submit the list of members. This will enable the Insolvency Service to recover fees in respect of the maintenance of the bodies' recognition with effect from 1 April 2004.

Charities

Lord Hodgson of Astley Abbotts: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Why under the Companies Act 1985 (Accounts of Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises and Audit Exemption) (Amendment) Regulations 2004 (S.I. 16/2004) the gross income limit for charities is left unchanged at £90,000 per annum.

Lord Sainsbury of Turville: Under the Companies Act 1985 a company which is a charity must have its accounts audited if its gross income is more than £250,000 per annum. If the gross income is between £90,000 and £250,000 a company which is a charity is required to have a report prepared by a reporting accountant.
	Following the Strategy Unit review of the law and regulation of the charitable and not-for-profit-sector, the DTI is considering with the Home Office increasing the gross income audit threshold for unincorporated charities and charitable companies from £250,000 to £500,000 per annum.

Plants: Non-indigenous Pathogens

Lord Kimball: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether the Plant Health Inspectorate is the front line in protecting the United Kingdom from non-indigenous pathogens; and whether sufficient funding is available to ensure that all suspicious plants are destroyed and paid for.

Lord Whitty: Defra's Plant Health and Seeds Inspectorate is responsible for inspecting plants and plant produce under a plant quarantine surveillance programme covering both imports from third countries and consignments moving in trade. But resources are finite and industry must share responsibility for the ongoing surveillance of imported material (which may not exhibit symptoms of pests or diseases at the time of inspection) and must exercise caution in choosing suppliers when importing plants and produce to ensure that they are not importing known or unknown pests and diseases. Others, such as the general public and transport operators, also have responsibilities in ensuring that they do not bring pests and diseases into the country.
	Powers to prevent the import of plants and plant products that may contain non-indigenous pathogens are contained in the Plant Health Order 1993. This provides an inspector with a number of options including serving a notice on the importer or other person requiring that such plants are destroyed.
	The Government consider that so far as possible the financial risks associated with the destruction of imported or other plants that host non-indigenous pathogens should be borne by the parties concerned. Accordingly, the Government pay no compensation to importers or other persons for any financial loss resulting from the destruction of such plants.

Defra: Agencies and Bodies

Baroness Byford: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many quangos and agencies reported to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs in each of the years 2000 to 2003; what they were called; and how many staff were employed by each.

Lord Whitty: The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs was created in June 2001; the information given relates to the period since then.
	Defra currently has responsibility for 18 executive non-departmental public bodies, 32 advisory bodies, four tribunals and two public corporations. These numbers have not changed significantly since the department was created. The lists below show all the non-departmental public bodies that have reported to Defra since June 2001. They include the number of staff employed in the public corporations and executive NDPBs; the advisory and tribunal NDPBs do not employ their own staff.
	
		
			  2001 2002 2003 
			 Public Corporations 
			 British Waterways Board 1,929 1,929 2,063 
			 Covent Garden Market Authority 39 39 40 
			 Executive NDPBs 
			 Agricultural Wages Board for  England and Wales 1.8 1.8 2 
			 Agricultural Wages Committees for  England and Wales 1.6 1.6 1.6 
			 Apple and Pear Research Council(1) 0.5 1 — 
			 British Potato Council 62 63 63 
			 Countryside Agency 509.15 631.5 625.4 
			 English Nature 783.5 825 1,030 
			 Environment Agency 10,476 10,595 10,595 
			 Food from Britain 26 26 26 
			 Home-Grown Cereals Authority 43.5 47.3 50 
			 Horticultural Development Council 15 13.5 12 
			 Horticulture Research International 567 502.5 484 
			 Joint Nature Conservation  Committee 82 100 101 
			 Meat and Livestock Commission 678 666 666 
			 Milk Development Council 9 14 14 
			 National Forest Company 15.5 17 17 
			 Regional Flood Defence Committees 0 0 0 
			 Royal Botanic Gardens Kew 551 601 601 
			 Sea Fish Industry Authority 147 145 145 
			 United Kingdom Register of Organic  Food Standards(2) 7 7 7 
			 Wine Standards Board 10.5 10.5 10.5 
		
	
	Advisory NDPBs
	Advisory Committee on Business and the Environment
	Advisory Committee on Consumer Products and the Environment
	Advisory Committee on Hazardous Substances
	Advisory Committee on Organic Standards(1)
	Advisory Committee on Packaging(2)
	Advisory Committee on Pesticides
	Advisory Committee on Releases to the Environment
	Agricultural Dwelling House Advisory Committees
	Airborne Particles Expert Group(3)
	Air Quality Expert Group(4)
	Committee of Investigation for Great Britain
	Committee on Agricultural Valuation
	Committee on Products and Processes for Use in Public Water Supply
	Consumers' Committee for Great Britain
	Darwin Advisory Committee
	Expert Group on Cryptosporidium in Water Supplies
	Expert Panel on Air Quality Standards
	Farm Animal Welfare Council
	Government-Industry Forum on Non-food Uses of Crops
	Hill Farming Advisory Committee
	Independent Scientific Group on Cattle TB
	Inland Waterways Amenity Advisory Council
	Integrated Administration and Control System Appeals Panel(5)
	National Expert Group on Transboundary Air Pollution(6)
	Pesticide Residues Committee
	Radioactive Waste Management Advisory Committee
	Royal Commission on Environment Pollution
	Science Advisory Council(7)
	Spongiform Encephalopathy Advisory Committee
	Sustainable Development Commission
	Sustainable Development Education Panel(10)
	Veterinary Products Committee
	Veterinary Residues Committee
	Water Regulations Advisory Committee
	Zoos Forum
	Tribunal NDPBs
	Agricultural Land Tribunal
	Commons Commissioners
	Dairy Produce Quota Tribunal
	Plant Varieties and Seeds Tribunal
	(8) Wound up 31 March 2003
	(9) Wound up 18 July 2003
	(10) Established 1 November 2003
	(11) Old committee was wound up on 31 December 2001, and a new committee of the same name established on 10 September 2002
	(12) Wound up early 2002
	(13) Established 1 July 2002
	(14) Established 1 April 2002
	(15) Wound up 31 August 2001
	(16) Established 5 January 2004
	(10) Wound up February 2003
	Defra inherited six executive agencies at the time of its creation, all from the former MAFF. These agencies were:
	Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (CEFAS)
	Central Science Laboratory (CSL)
	Pesticides Safety Directorate (PSD)
	Veterinary Laboratories Agency (VLA)
	Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD), and
	Intervention Board Executive Agency (IBEA)
	The Rural Payments Agency (RPA) was created on 16 October 2001, and took over the functions and staff of the IBEA on 15 November 2001.
	The number of permanent staff in each agency for each year since the creation of Defra is set out on the table below:
	
		
			 Agency 1 Oct 2001 1 Apr 2002 1 Apr 2003 
			 CEFAS 480 500 530 
			 CSL 580 610 650 
			 PSD 190 180 170 
			 RPA — 2,940 2,870 
			 VLA 1,160 1,230 1,290 
			 VMD 110 120 120 
			 IBEA 1,080 — —

Foot and Mouth Disease: Claims Settlements

Baroness Byford: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	When they anticipate paying the outstanding claims by farmers which are not subject to court cases, following the foot and mouth outbreak in 2001.

Lord Whitty: There are currently 25 cases relating to claims by farmers against Defra arising from the outbreaks of foot and mouth disease in 2001 in which proceedings have not been issued. Settlement offers have been made or are being negotiated in 10 of these cases. Defra denies liability to make any payments in each of the remaining 15 cases.
	In addition, 119 outstanding claims for increased compensation for animals slaughtered as a result of FMD are subject to ongoing discussions and further review, including the use of mediation and arbitration processes, with individual farmers and their representatives.

Foot and Mouth Disease: Claims Settlements

Baroness Byford: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many claims by farmers relating to the foot and mouth outbreak are due to be taken to court.

Lord Whitty: Proceedings have been issued in five cases relating to claims by farmers against Defra arising from the outbreaks of foot and mouth disease in 2001. Trial dates have been scheduled in four of these cases.

Railways

Lord Roberts of Conwy: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is the current annual total of taxpayer subsidy involved in train leasing arrangements; and
	How current taxpayer subsidy is divided between recipient train operators individually.

Lord Davies of Oldham: Franchise agreements specify franchise payments (whether subsidy or premium) in aggregate annual amounts as established in competition for the franchise. These payments meet the full service requirements specified in the franchise agreement, including train lease costs. The payments for each of the train operating companies are listed on page 141 of the Strategic Rail Authority's 2002–03 annual report which has been placed in the Library of the House.

Railways

Lord Roberts of Conwy: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is the estimated cost of (a) the Pacer, and (b) the Pendolino trains, and the annual leasing cost; and
	Whether changes to primary legislation would be required to abolish the train leasing system.

Lord Davies of Oldham: The procurement of rolling stock is a matter of private contract between train operating companies and rolling stock leasing companies. It would require primary legislation to abolish the train leasing system.

Heathrow Airport: Travelators

Lord Acton: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Davies of Oldham on 2 February (WA 77), how much Heathrow Airport paid by way of rebates to airlines for failure of the travelators in Terminal 3 to meet the specified standard in any month between July and December 2003.

Lord Davies of Oldham: Over the period Heathrow Airport paid £40,000 to airlines in respect of the travelators in Terminal 3, which was the maximum amount payable under the scheme for rebates for failing to meet the specified standard.

A12: Witham Bypass

Lord Marlesford: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether the Highways Agency will arrange to plant fresh tree and shrub screening along the newly renovated section of the Witham bypass on the A12 trunk road.

Lord Davies of Oldham: The Highways Agency is carrying out a survey into all landscaping on the A12 trunk road. The survey should be completed by early spring. A landscape management plan for the whole of this route will then be drawn up and will consider whether any additional tree and shrub planting is necessary along the recently improved section of Witham bypass.

Vehicle Registration Office: Honeypot Lane, Stanmore

Earl Attlee: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is the approximate turnover of the Vehicle Registration Office at Honeypot Lane, Stanmore, in terms of vehicle excise licence receipts.

Lord Davies of Oldham: The average monthly vehicle licence receipts at the DVLA local office at Stanmore are £570,000. A further £200,000 is received monthly in respect of other business such as driving licence, cherished transfer and vehicle registration fees.

Vehicle Registration Office: Honeypot Lane, Stanmore

Earl Attlee: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is the target time for completion of a customer's business at the Vehicle Registration Office at Honeypot Lane, Stanmore.

Lord Davies of Oldham: Targets provide that applications for cherished transfers are completed within seven working days. The DVLA local office at Stanmore will, wherever practicably possible, try to process cherished transfer applications by way of an "over the counter" service while the customer waits.
	Target times for applications to import a vehicle into this country vary from 48-hour turnround for new vehicles to 72-hour turnround for second-hand vehicles. Import applications can only meet these target times if the vehicle does not need to be inspected and provided that all of the related documentation is complete and bona fide.
	All other transactions are completed at the counter or are forwarded to the DVLA main office at Swansea to be processed in line with published standards.

Vehicle Registration Office: Honeypot Lane, Stanmore

Earl Attlee: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many customer service points are available at the Vehicle Registration Office at Honeypot Lane, Stanmore; and for how many hours a day they are open.

Lord Davies of Oldham: There are eight customer service points at the DVLA local office at Stanmore. Seven of these are normally open for processing customer applications. The eighth is used to deal with general inquiries and to check applications for completeness and so avoid customers waiting unnecessarily with applications that cannot be processed.
	The office is open for eight hours every weekday. In April 2003 the agency increased the opening hours to the public from 09.30 to 16.00 (15.30 on Fridays) to 09.00 to 17.00 (Monday to Friday). Every effort is made to ensure that all counters at Stanmore are open every day unless customer demand does not warrant it.

Vehicle Registration Office: Honeypot Lane, Stanmore

Earl Attlee: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	For the last convenient week for which figures are available, what is the average number of customers transacting business at the Vehicle Registration Office at Honeypot Lane, Stanmore.

Lord Davies of Oldham: In the week commencing 2 February 2004, 1,592 customers transacted business at the DVLA local office in Stanmore, an average of 318 per day or 40 per hour. In addition, an unknown number of customers had miscellaneous queries and inquiries dealt with outside our queue management system.

Vehicle Registration Office: Honeypot Lane, Stanmore

Earl Attlee: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether the Vehicle Registration Office at Honeypot Lane, Stanmore, accepts debit and credit cards; and, if not, why not.

Lord Davies of Oldham: DVLA would very much like to be able to offer customers the ability to pay vehicle excise duty by debit or credit card at local offices like Stanmore.
	The agency is currently piloting a scheme to accept debit card payments for vehicle excise duty. If it is successful it will be introduced across the DVLA local office network including Stanmore.
	DVLA cannot absorb the commission charges levied by credit card companies but is currently investigating options for the recovery of these costs.